In the news: why boredom is keeping you unhealthy

There could be a reason why you find that mid-afternoon biscuit or bag of crisps is so hard to resist. New research has identified boredom as a key factor in why we crave sweet and fatty foods. This means losing weight, apart from exercise and dieting, might simply be a matter of leading a more interesting life.

It's all down to the hormone dopamine: the neurotransmitter that helps to control the brain's reward and pleasure centres. When our levels of dopamine drop, which happens when our brains are not being stimulated by activity, we try and compensate for it in other ways. Enter junk food.

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The study, which was conducted by the University of Central Lancashire, divided participants into two groups and showed them two different films. The first group was shown an entertaining video, the second a boring one. Both groups were surrounded by bowls of snacks, some of which contained healthy foods such as salad and fruit while others were filled with crisps, sweets and chocolate. Bet you can't guess which group ate more of the unhealthy food (hint: it was the second group).

A second experiment, in which people were asked to fill out questionnaires before and after the boring task of copying the letters C and D over and over again, showed that people had a strong preference for sweet and fatty foods after completing the mind-numbing task.

While it's quite well known that people feeling low, sad or upset often craved junk food, this is the first time that boredom has been scientifically established as a trigger.

Dr Sandi Mann, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, said:

"This strengthens the theory that boredom is related to low levels of Dopamine and that people try to boost this by eating fat and sugar. When we are bored, we seek stimulation. If you are in the office and have limited opportunities for stimulation, a sugary snack provides it through a dopamine surge."

The experiment could have serious implications for the anti-obesity drive. The most recent national statistics show that the proportion of people who are overweight or obese in the UK stands at 67.1% in men and 57.2%in women, and Dr Mann thinks that fatty food companies are using our boredom to their advantage.

"I increasingly think boredom is propping up the confectionary industry. They know that, which is why they places vending machines in places they know people will get bored."

Other times you may be tempted to snack

It can often be difficult to resist the call of unhealthy food, and it's not just boredom that makes you vulnerable:

When you're down-in-the-dumps

We've all had one (or two… alright maybe three) Bridget Jones moments in our lives where we curl up on the sofa in our most unflattering pair of pyjamas and not-so-slowly make our way through a tub of Ben & Jerry's. And that's OK – you're only human! What you don't want to do is find yourself eating your feelings every time the smallest thing doesn't go to plan. Most of the time, eating junk food when you're sad only makes you feel worse, because you've got the guilt of unhealthiness on top of your other emotions. So, next time things aren't particularly going your way, try sweating it out instead. Cardio exercises such as running will get your heart pumping and increase your dopamine levels, which means you'll cheer up and stay healthy.

When you're feeling pleased with yourself

Humans have always associated food with rewards. That's why when something good happens, like losing a certain amount of weight or getting praise at work, we automatically turn to junk food as a 'treat'. Again, this is fine if it isn't something you're doing all the time, but make sure it doesn't become a habit. Next time something goes right for you, consider swapping that takeaway and the bottle of Pinot for something that your body will actually thank you for, like an indulgent bottle of bubble bath or a new lipstick.

Special occasions

In theory, unhealthy eating 'only on special occasions' won't impact your health. But when there's an office party, two birthdays and a wedding all in the space of a week, it doesn't quite work out like that. Decide which occasions are truly special to you and which ones aren't, then only snack at the ones you really care about. Swerve a slice of cake at the office (for the third time that week) in order to enjoy the wonderful spread at your best friend's wedding.

Jenny L. CookJenny Cook is an award-winning writer and editor who covers health and personal finance.

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